Automatic feeding device



April 25, 1939.

G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet l e@ e @Mif w @All IApril 25, 1939. G. A. GlBsoN, JR 2,155,895

' AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June\ 50. 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 i u G.A. GIBSON, JR

. AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE f Filed June zo. 1954 11 sheets-*sheet s fisV H :o

wf/Mm?? G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE- 11 sheets-sheet 4 Filed June 3o, 1934 April25, 1939. G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMTC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 50, 1934 l1-` Sheets-Shaml 5 G. A.GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEELSING DEVICE April 25, 1939.

Filed JuneO 1934 11 Sheetsf-Sheet 6 o: @n OS @2H O3 April 25, 1939. G*A. GIBSON, JR 2,155,895

` AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June so, 1954 11 sheets-sheet 7 April.25, 1939. G. A. GlasoN, JR 2,155,395

AUTOMATIC FEDING DEVICE I Filed June 30, 1934 11 Sheets-Sheet 8'fm-1555,- u-f 1N VEN TOR. George A. Gibson Jr'. BY

A ATTORNEYS.

11 sheets-sneef 9 I IIITIIIIL s IIL llllllllllllllll Il INVENTOR. i.George A. Gibson, dr'.

ATTORNEYS.

I.. l H l l .rlllllll G. A. GIBSON, JR

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1934 April 25, 1939.

April 25, 1939. G. A. GlsoN, JR ,Y 2,155,895

AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEvIoE Filed June 30, 1934 I il Sheets-Sheet l0 yNVENTOR. George Gibson, dr. M M4/444m A A TToRNEYS.

Filed June 30, 1934 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Mimmw IN V EN TOR. George A.Gibson, dr. BY l .Raaf/M QAM A TTORNEYS..

Patented Apr. 25,- .1939 I UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE AU'IlOMATICFEEDING DEVICE George A. Gibson, Jr., New York, N. Y.

Application June 30, 1934, Serial No. 733,257

. 19 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a. very eiiicient automaticfeeding device for feeding paper, cards, envelopes, folders, bags, etc.,and, while not limited thereto, it is well adapted for use with a rotaryprinting machine of the type known as the multigraph.

My device is of the type in which the blanks are fanned or combed anddelivered by gravity or other means to a friction feeding roller the -10separation being accomplished by a second friction member adjusted tobear against or nearly against the "friction feeding roller.

By experiment, I have foundv that when a gravity magazine such as theone I employ is loaded, the inherent qualities of the blanks being fed,such as length, stiffness,y thickness, curvature, etc., determine to `agreat .extent "the angle at which the leading blank of a liftfwillnaturally be presented to the feeding roller,othermeans ofcontrolling this angle being absent. In my invention I recognize thisnatural= tendency as the controlling factor, and provide means ofmaintaining this angle of the leading blank to a great extent againstchange caused by variation of other factors, such as, angle or slope ofthe gravity magazine, quantity in the magazine, amount of degree offanning or combing,- factors which would in many cases require greatcare and constant attention on the part of the operator.

By experiment, I have also found.I that to lob- I ture for positioningwith relation to the printing ual as possible particularly until thispart of the Objects of my invention are, therefore, to provide means formaintaining the leading blank in its normal or natural directionaccording to its inherent qualities, to provide means for setting theseparating member in appropriate angular relationship with this normalor natural direction, to provide means for flexing the blank graduallyand uniformly, to provide means for holdoperation of withdrawing theblank from between ingand adjusting the separating member towards andfrom the feeding member, also, and particularly, to provide means ofaccomplishing these ends for'blanks. of different length, width,thickness, stiffness, curvature, etc.,'and in various lat- 6 eralpositions.

A further. object is to provide an adjustable feeding belt to co-operatewith the feeding roller and other adjustable Imembers to secure positivefeeding. lo

A further object is to provide adjustable means for preventing thepacking down of heavy or short bulky blanks against the feeding rollerand feeding belt, a condition which would otherwise interfere with thepositive pick-up of these feeding members.

A further object is to provide an inclined removable hopper easilyadjustable, to different angles to insure proper contact ofthe blankswith the feeding members, pivoted near its upper end to cooperate withother means provided to secure proper angular relationship of theleading blank with Athe separating member, adjustable in itself forwidth of blanks being fed, and slidable laterally as a unit upon itssupporting strucor other machine.

A further object is to provide ratchet mechanism permitting pull-outrollers to `complete the the feed roller and separating member.

v A further object is to provide convenient means for changing theeffective length of the feed stroke,l this feature being of particularvalue in the Ifeeding of short blanks.

A further object is to provide convenient means for cutting off thefeeding altogether, which is useful when the printing Aor other machineis idling for inking up, etc. V

A further object is to provide a feeding device of` simple knock-downconstruction, one which may be quickly set for different kinds ofblanks, and for correct position and timing with reference to theprinting or other machine.

A further object is to provide a blank holding and separating unitremovably mounted, and a delivery or registering unit slidably and removably mounted upon a base frame.

A further object is to provide a base frame upon which different typesof magazine and separator units may` be removably and interchangeablymounted, and upon which different types of delivery of registering unitsmay be removably, slidably and interchangeably mounted.

' A further object is to provide a delivery or registering unitremovably and slidably mounted, and adapted to be driven by and from theshaft underneath the power drive base of the multigraph.

A further object is to provide means i'ork vary` ing the speed at whichblanks may be delivered to the printing or other machine. My inventionlprovides means for reducing the surface speed of the pull-out andregistering rollers to avoid too great impact of the blanks against theregistering stops oi the printing machine when it is being operated athig-h speed.

A further object is to provide finely adjutable means for straighteningout the blank and for changing lateral position of the blank withoutstopping the machine. A

A further object is to provide means for changlng lateral positioning ofthe .blank without changing or disturbing adjustments already made `tosecure accurate register.

adjusting the angle roller driving belt against the angle rollers tosecure positive driving.

- A furtherobject is to provide a convenient arrangement of parts tofacilitate removing and replacing of belts.

A further object is to provide a short angle 'y roller lnear thedelivery end; of my conveyor adapted to register short blanks, simplemeans of. mounting this roller, and simple and self-adjusting means ofdriving this short roller.

A further object is to combine in a compact removable pull-out andregistering unit, pull-out rollers,v angle rollers, meansfor drivingthem from a' driven pulley which is a part of this unit, adjustablemeans for aligning the blank being registered, means for weighting theblank, and means of adjusting the entire pull-out and registering unitlaterally, said adjusting means being adapted to cofoperate withmeansupon the supporting structure provided.-

A further object of my invention is to provide a Vconvenient arrangementof guidgs.' balls, ball holders and-other auxiliary means in conjunctionwith the rollers to deliver the blank, speedily, positively and exactlyinto the desired position and to hold it there until? acted upon by the`printing or other machine.

balls ymay project so as to bear upon blank delivering means, aplurality of ball retaining pieces adapted to slide in saidchannel-shaped guide, and self-acting means of locking said ballretaining pieces in position over holes in the bottom of saidchannel-shaped guide.

A further object is to provide a'. convenient mounting for a wiping padso that it may be easily placed inoperative position against the feedingroller or in idle position, as desired.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific thanthose'referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed outin the course of the following description of the elements,combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principlesconstituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplatedwill be indicated in the appended claims.

For a clearer comprehension of the operation of this invention, it isherein shown in connection. with the multigraph and power drive commonlyused with the multigraph.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of thisspecication, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form ofembodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1is a perspective view of the right side of my automatic feed asused with the multigraph, its power drive base and stand, which areshown in part. n

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the left side of the equipment shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the roller conveyor or register board ofmy feeder removed and inverted.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of magazine and separator with some partsbroken away to show construction details.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally andvertically through the magavzine and its supporting frame.

6 is a section taken through plane 6--8 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of feeder with ball holders and guidesremoved and roller driving parts omitted.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken throughthe conveyor in aplane at right angles to the conveying rollers and to the right of theroller driving mechanism which is shown in this view.

Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively diagrammatic plan and elevational viewsillustrating arrangement of gears, belts, pulleys, etc. in the assemblyof multigraph, power drive base, and motor with my feeder and conveyor.l

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken at II-Il of Fig. 7, on a largerscale.

' Fig. 12 is a plan view of one ofY my ball holding guides, on a largerscale than Fig.l 24.

Fig. 13 is a section taken in the vertical plane |3-i3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken in the plane lll-I4 loi Fig. 12,.,ona larger scale.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one of the ball holding blocks shown insection in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a transverse vertical section taken through one ofthe ballholding blocks.

Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the block shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a plan sectional view showing details of conveyor rollerconstruction and mounting.

Fig. 19 is -a vertical section taken at ISI- I9 oi' pan Ie- Fig. 24 is aplan view of part of conveyor with blank in position as registeredagainst stop fingers of the multi'graph.

Fig. 25 is a, sectional plan view of feeding roller shaft and ratchetmechanism.

Fig. 26 is a plan sectional detail of main driv shaft and bearing of theroller conveyor.

Figs. 27 and 28 are respectively plan and Velevational details of myconveyor showing different construction from that of previous figures,and particularly a short roller and the means I em# ploy to drive it.

Fig. 29 is a bottom view of the short roller and plate upon which it ismounted, removed from conveyor.

Figs. 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 relate to a different arrangement of partsfrom that shown in Fig. 11 and other previous figures, Fig. 30 being asectional elevation taken through the frame of the feeder with conveyorremoved looking towards the magazine which is not shown in this view.

Fig. 31 is a plan view of the assembly as shown in Fig. 30. Y

Figs. 32, 33, and 34 are sectional elevations viewed from the right sideof the feeder showing different arrangements of parts for differentkinds of blanks.

Figs. 35 and 36 are respectively right and left elevational details of aratchet cut-off which I provide with the construction shown inFigs. 30,31, 32, 33, and 34.

Fig. 37 is a section taken at 31-31, Fig. 8.

Fig. I38 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 36, with mountingand stroke regulating y vdevice added in section.

Fig. 39 is a transverse section of the right guide as shown in Figs.'Tand 24.

Fig. 40 is a plan view of the stroke regulating collar.

Fig. 41 is a view taken at 4|4I of Fig. 38 showing the action of thepawl in connection with the stroke regulating collar.

Fig. 42 is an elevation taken at 42-42 of Fig. 30 showing mounting ofthe feed belt brackets.

Fig. 43 is a diagrammatic elevational detail showing operation of thebelt tightener releasing and locking mechanism used to cut-off theconveyor.

Fig. 44 is a plan view detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 43.

In the perspective views Figs. 1 and 2 my feeder is shown attached tothe power drive base I regularly used upon the tubular stand 2' tosupport and drive the multigraph 3. -The arrangement of drivingmechanism in the power drive base is substantially as shown in GammetersPatent No. 1,048,305, except that, instead of having the direct gearconnection with the motor as shown in Fig. 6 of that patent, the motor`is in more recent practice mounted upon the lower cross brace's of thetubular stand, and a belt 4, driven by the motor pulley drives thepulley 5 upon the shaft 6, Figs. 9 and of this application. In practicetheshaft 6 is much longer than the corresponding shaft 64, Fig. 6 of thepatent above referred to, so that between the'bearing lugs which supportthis shaft there is a distance of about 9 or 10 inches.- Upon this shaftand between these bearing lugs I place a multiple speed drive pulley 1to drive my roller conveyor, using the crossed belt 8 and the largedriven pulley 9 on the shaft I0 of the conveyor.

The multigraph 3 as shown is of a well known construction and may beconsidered, for example, as made in accordance with Patent No. 846,992.

In Figs. 9 and l0 the general arrangement of gears used in the ordinarymultigraph and power drive base is illustrated. The belt 4 is driven bythe motor pulley. It drives the large pulley 5 which is pinned to theshaft 6. On the end of this shaft lis a small gear II which drives the4intermediate `gear I2, which in turn drives the platen gear I3, whichmeshes with the large gear I4 ofthe printing member. The intermediategear I2 has mounted upon the same shaft with it a small gear I5 whichdrives the crank I6` by engaging the gear I1 mounted on the same shaftwith the crank. lThe crank makes one revolutign with each revolution ofthe printing drum.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, I use the crank I6 to make the feed stroke andto time the feed stroke so that the blank will be delivered to themultigraph when its paper fingers or registering stops are in theirupper position. To time the feed stroke the set screw I8 is loosened andthe arm I6 is turned upon its shaft I9 to the desired position andlocked by tightening the screw I8. The link is notched to fit over theshoulder screw' 2| carried bythe crank arm I6.

The supporting frame 22 of my feeder has a plate 23, Figs. 7 and 20,with holes to match the tapped holes in the power drive base I, whichare provided for mounting other types of feeding devices such as theones described in Patents Nos. 1,052,332, 1,051,726 and 1,457,158. Thetwo screws 24, Figs. 7 and 20, aside from the belt 8 and the link 20,are the only connection my feeder has with the' power drive base.connection of my `feeder with the multigraph itself, the latter may beremoved from its base for cleaning, adjusting, etc., entirelyindependent of the feeder.

When it is desired to disconnect the feeder entirely, all that need bedone is to remove link 20, throw the belt 3 off the conveyor pulley 9and remove the two screws 24. The conveyor itself may be removed as inFig. 3 to admit better access to the screws 24. This convenientknockdown construction as hereinafter more fully described is animportant feature of my invention.

Having thus briefly described how my feeder may b e attached to anddriven by the power drive base commonly used with the multigraph, I willnow describe the construction and operation of the feeder itself.

The stand ismade up of four upright members of equal length; 2 upper and2 lower longitudinal braces 26, 2 front and 2 rear cross braces 21. lTheframe 22 rests upon the upper longitudinal braces 26, being held thereby the upper ends of the uprights 25 as shown at 28, Fig. 2. The baseframe 22 is made up of left and right longitudinal side-members 29, arear cross piece 30, ,a centre cross piece 3|, and a front metalstructure composed of angles 32 to which are attached by screws or othersuitable means, slide members 33 and 34 and an attaching plate 23riveted to the slide member 33. A rear slide plate 34A strengthens theframe structure. A cross rod 35 is provided, its ends being let in theside members 29. Attached to the cross member 3l, Fig, 4, is a plate 36having tapped holes to receive T-screws 31 by means of which the base ofthe magazine andseparating unit is mounted upon the base frame 22.

The base of the magazine and separating unit ,is made up of a right sidemember 38, Fig. 4, and.

a left side memebr 39, Fig. 2, and a brace member 40, shown in sectionin Fig. 11, to which the side members' 38 and 39 are attached by meansof 'screws 4I. The side members are provided Since there is no.

-clips 53 are forced down over the 'rod 52.

with holes to receive T-screws 31 for -mounting upon the centre crosspiece. 3l of the frame 22. These screws 4l also hold left and rightplates 42 in place. Near the upper ends of these plates the U-shapedframe 43 is pivoted upon the cross rod 44. The frame 43 is held rigid bythe sheet metal plate 45 bent around the cross rods 46 which are rivetedin place. U-shaped piece 41, having notches to fit the cross rod 35, andpivoted at 48 on the frame 43 provides a means of adjusting the magazinepan to any desired angle. Springs 49 hold the U-shaped frame firmly inplace once it is set. Safety stops 50 are provided to prevent thesprings 49 from being broken by accidental dropping of the magazinesupporting structure.

The magazine pan is made up of 2 sheet metal pieces bent at right angleslongitudinally. The

right side 5l is removablyattached to the cross rod 52 of the framestructure 43, by means of spring clips 53, which are riveted to it. Bythis means the magazine pan is movable sidewise by sliding along the rod52, and it is removable by forcing up off the rod. To attach the pan theThe bracket 55 bolted to the right side of the magazine pan holds the ndofthe adjusting rod 56 which is screwed into it. A sliding bracket 51,tted with a thumb screw 58 holds the left side 54 to which it is bolted,in any desired posiiton along the rod 56. The left side 54 is narrow sothat when closed up against the right side 5I a lift of narrow blankswill be accommodated. When open wide the magazine is wide enough to takea maximum width blank while there is plenty of room for lateraladjustment to suit the lateral 4position of the type of the printingform; for instance, for a blank of two-thirds maximum width to be run atthe extreme left side of the printing drum, the pan may be set 'for sizeby closing the side 54 into correct position along 'the rod. 56,

then for correct lateral position with regard to the matter on theprinting drum, by sliding the entire magazine pan to the left along therod 52.. 'I'he blanks are fanned and loaded into the.

magazine pan as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The rubber feed roller 59 whichis supported and rotated intermitently in a counter-clockwise directionby mechanism to be described, is shown in Figs'. 4 and 11 in positionrelative to the mag- .azine and the adjustable separator. The upper'most of the lift of blanks fed downwardly by gravity, is the first tocomel in contact with the rubber feed roller 59. As the feed roller isrotated the blank is fed forward, the second blank is also-moved forwardslightly by the friction of the rst against it. But the resistance whichthe second blank encounters when it comes against the separating rubber60 is greater than,

to t upon the tube 62 upon which it may be moved laterally to anydesired position and fixed by the thumb screw 63. 'I'he tube 62 is heldin place by the rod 64 which is threaded at one end and screwed into theleft plate 42; it is bent at the other end to form a convenient leverfor unscrewing when it is desirable to remove the separator finger andrenew the rubber 66.

To adjust the separator towards andfrom the feed roller a plate 65pivoted at its rear edge in the plates 421s provided. The front edge ofthis plate 65 bears against the separator nger and is adjustable by thethumbscrew 66 with lock nut. Guides 61 rod 44.

The rubber feed roller 59 has a metal hub 68 fitted with set screw 69 sothat it may be fixed tight upon the shaft 10 in any desired position.The separator finger is moved along the tube 62 and locked in positionunderneath the feed roller, and is adjustable to and from the feedroller, in any lateral position by the plate 65 and the screw 66.

The shaft 1l) is bored at its left end to t over the bearing pin 1|,Fig. 25 which is removably mounted vin the left side member 39. A setscrew 12 holds thebearing pin 1I in place.` The right end of the shaft10 is bored and notched to fit over the hub of and be rotated by thepawl wheel 13 through the pins 80 fixed therein. This pawl wheel isrotated intermittently by the crank I6 of the power drive base throughthe link 2D and its associated parts. The upper end of the link 20fisslotted and has a rack 14 mounted upon the lower side of the slot sothat it meshes with` the gear 15 pinned to the'shaft 16. A collar 11pinned to the shaft 16, and a roller 18 hold the link and rack inalignment. .The shaft 16 is journaled in the right side member 38 of thefeed unit base. The screw 19 holdsthe pawl wheel 13 on the end of theshaft 16, upon which except for the pawls 82, itis free to turn. Mountedon one side of the pawl wheel 13`are pawls 82. `Springs 83 hold thesepawls down against the ratchet wheel 84 which is fixed upon the shaft 16and is turned back and forth rst in one direction and then in the otherby the forward andbackward motion of the rack 14 acting upon the gear15. The motion imparted to the feed roller through this mechanism istherefore, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 11, kan intermittentcounter-clockwise rotation.

The parts of this mechanism are so propor tioned that with onerevolution of the printing .drum of the multigraiph a bl'ank is fed fromthe magazine sufficiently far forward to be engaged by the continuouslyrotating pull-out rollers 85 and 86 of the conveyor. These rollerscomplete the operation of withdrawing the blank from y Other types offeeders such as those illustrated in Patents No. 1,052,332, 1,051,726and 1,457,158 may be mounted upon .the crossmember 3| of my base frame22 and operated from the crank I6 of the multigraph power drive base byusing a longer link such as the one 20 used to voperate the particulartype of feeder herein illusltrated and described. When so mounted andused with my conveyor these'feeders are no longer required to registerthe blank, and the'feed rollers of the multigraph itself are notrequired a to complete the operation of withdrawing the blank from themagazine. Both these functions are taken. over by my conveyor, andperformed by it more accurately and at greater speeds than is possiblewhen these feeders are mounted directly upon the base of the mutigraphas contemplated by these patents.

are removably supported by the .c It is also contemplated in thisinvention that means of withdrawing and registering the blanks to befed", other than and interchangeable with,

vthe conveyor shown herein may be used.

The various parts of the roller conveyor are assembled upon a frame madeup of a left side member 81 and a right side member 88, Fig. 3, heldparallel and a suitable distance apart by a front tie plate 88, and arear tie plate 80. These tie plates are attached by screws to the sidemembers as indicated in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 20 the front tieplate fits in' the way formed by the slide members 33 and 34 of the baseframe. A rack 8| attached to the slide member 33 is engaged by thepinion rod 82,' the upper end of which is xed in the handwheel 83. Athumb screw 84 fitted in the bracket 85A is used to' I'hese rollerscarry the blank forward and against the right guide 86 formed of .asingle piece of i sheet metalhaving channel shaped cross section asindicated in Fig. 39. As shown in Fig. 18, the

shaft by means of screw which may be renut locked moved when it-isnecessary to take out this roller to renew the rubber |0l, which isprovided to give it better grip on the blank |02 being pulled out frombetween the feed roller 58 and the separator rubber 60.

.The right guide 86 is notched as shown in Fig. 7 to receive the ends ofthe rollers 85,- and the projections I 03 are bent down so as to preventthe blank from getting under them. The guide 86 is pivoted at |04 uponthe angle piece |05 to which it is attached by means of a suitablecountersunk rivet or screw. The guide 86 is adjustable by means of thumbnut |06 upon screw |01. The angle piece |08 is joined by pivotalconnection at |08 to the guide 86. A compression spring I I0, Fig. 3,pressing against the downwardly bent portion ||I of the angle piece |08,which has a. hole to receive the screw |01, keeps the rear end of theguide 95 as far to the right as the nut |06 on the screw |01 willpermit. The

pressure of this spring also tends to keep the in place after the guidehas been Set.

The rear end of the guide is partly cutaway and opened as shown at ||2,Fig. '4,' so as-to better receive the leading edge of the blank.

. The cross rod ||3 reduced at either end to fit into the slots at thetop of the plates ||4 and IIS, is locked in place by means of wing nuts||6 and II1. This cross rod I3 supports the arm |I8. The spring I|8 hasone end looped over the arm at |20, the other end looped around thethumb screw I2I which is fitted through the collar |22. By thisarrangement the desired pressure of the upper pull-out roller 85 againstthe lower roller 86 may be obtained. The upper pull-out roller turnsupon the shaft |23 which is fixed at one end in the arm I I8. Theshaft|23 also supports the bracket |24 which carries a felt wiper |25 used tokeep the feed roller '58 clean or for applying glycerine, etc., to theroller 58 to give it better pick-up. When desired this wiper may betilted over away from the pick-- up roller 59. It will then rest againstthe arm I I8, in idle position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to keep the blank under positive control after it hasV passedbetween the pull-out rollers 85 and 86, I employ one or more ballcontaining guides |26 and a left guide |21, which will hereinafter bedescribed in detail.

The guides |26 and |21 are clamped by means of thumb screws to the crossbar |28, slotted as at |28 at both ends so as to be removably clamped bywing nuts and screws to the brackets |30 and I 3| which are fastened bymeans of screws to the side members 81 and 88.

Theball containing' guides |26 are made of sheet metal ,formedas shownin Fig. 19. The guides |26 are fastened to a clamp member |32 by meansof screw |33 and plate |34, the turnedin edgGSof the guide |26 beingheld firmly betweenclamp member |32 and plate |34, bythe screw |33. istightened up against the under side of the cross bar |28 by means of thethumb screw |36, supporting the 'guide the proper distance above therollers 85. The rear end of the guide |26 is partly cut away as shown at|31, the bottom part is bent up as indicated, to receive the leadingedge of the fed blank.

I use steel balls, |38 to give the rollers a more positive action uponthe blank being fed. These balls are heldin place bearing upon therollers if desired or in idle storage position as at |38, Fig. 13.through which' the balls may project far enough to bear and turn freelyon the rollers 85. The edges of the holes are bent up as shown at I4I toprevent the blank being fed from getting caught, as will frequentlyhappen if the metal is i'iatl at these points. The retaining blocks I42V I being under tension keepsthe ball |44 in the pocket |41 formed inthe sideof the channel |26,

' locking 'the retaining block in correct position against displacementby vibration or by the action of the idler balls |38 as the blanks arebeing fed under them. While this is a very effective means of keepingthe retaining blocks from creeping as the blanks are fed, it is also avery convenient arrangement, since, when desirable the retaining blocksmay be easily moved by applying pressure by hand. When the retainingblocks are thus forced in either direction along the channel, as theball |44 is forced away from the pocket |41, the spring |45 is placedunder greater tension. When the retaining block is forced towards thepocket the locking ball |44 snaps into place locking the retaining blockagainst displacement. If the ball |38 is to be placed in idle positionas at |39, the pressure of the ball |44 against the iiat wall of thechannel is suicient to hold the retaining block and idler ball |38 inidle position.

The holes |40 in the sheet metal channel are not large enough to permitthe ball |38 to pass through entirely. The hole in the retaining blockThe surface |35 of the clamp |32v Holes |40 are provided in the guide|26,

is small enough at the top |48 to prevent the ball |38 from passingthrough. The hole in thelower part |49 is large enough to allow the ballfreel movement .for its purpose.

At |50 a ball is shown projecting downwardly through a. hole placedbetween two rollers 95. At the point |5I the metal of the channel isbent downwardly to guide the blank under this ball.

The means used to drive the pull-out roller 86, and the angle rollers 95is shown in Figs. 3, 8, 27, and 28. On the shaft l0, I mount in additionto the driven pulley 9, a pulley |5IA for driving the belt |52 which inturn passes over a series of small idler pulleys |53 placed as shown inFigs. 8 A

and 28 so as to cause the belt to bear against the angle rollers androtate them. These idlers are mounted by means of shoulder screws |54upon a plate |55; this plate is attached to the supporting member |56 bymeans of screws |51 which pass through slots |58 in this member.

As shown\in Fig. 3 the supporting member |56 is mounted by screws uponthe tie pieces 89 and 90. Upon plate |55 I provide pivotally mounted at|59 a tightener arm |60 and a tightener pulley |6I. Tension on the belt|52 is maintained by a pull spring |62 fastened at one end to the member|56 at |63 and at the .other end to the pin |64 which is riveted in thearm |60. By the slot arrangement shown in Fig. 37 the entire pulley andplate assembly may be adjusted up or down to obtain proper bearing ofthe belt |52 against the rollers 95 to drive them. To provide asupporting bracket for the shaft |0 under my conveyor and at the sametime a support for the cross rod H3, I use a single strip of metal bentto U-shape. The longer leg |65 of this strip is screwed to the conveyorside 81, Fig. 2. The other leg |66 is turned under at |61 and riveted tothe plate |68 Which is bolted to the member |56. In Fig. 26 I show howthe shaft |0 is mounted in the bracket formed by this U-shaped piece.The sides |64 and 61 of this piece are bored to receive the tubing |69which is riveted at the ends |10 as indicated. Oilless bearings |1| areprovided for the shaft I0 to rotate in.

For the long belt 8 which is driven by the multigraph base I provide atightener pulley |12 which is free to rotate upon and position itselfalong the shaft |13 according to the requirements of the belt 8 whichmay or may not be in line with the pulleys 1 and 9. The shaft |13 isfixed in the U-shaped bracket |14. oted on the `tie rod |15, a pullspring |16 fastened to one leg of the bracket |14 being provided tomaintain the tension on the belt 8 through the idler pulley |12.

The pulley |16A mounted on the end of the shaft I0 drives through thevcrossed belt |11 the pulley |18 on the shaft of pull-out roller 86. Tokeep this belt |11 taut-I provide an idler pulley |19 mounted upon anarm |80. This arm |80 is pivotally mounted near its lower `end upon thebracket |65. Spring |8| attached at one end to the side member 81 and atthe other to the upper end of the arm maintains the tension on thecrossed belt |11. The idler pulley |19 is out of line with the pulleys16A and |18 so as to hold the belt |11 clear of itself where it crosses.

In Figures 23 and 24, as well as in Fig. 1, I show flexible members |8|Amounted on the left guide v |21. The purpose pf these members is toretain theY blank in alignment after it has been delivered against thestops.

In practice the left guide |21, is s`et slightly This bracket |14 isplv-.-

further to the right than is shown in Fig.` 24. The action of the anglerollers and balls upon the blank |82 causes the blank |82y to be broughtagainst the guide 96 as soon as it is released from between the pull-outrollers. The. blank then j comes against the inside surface of the lowerportion of the flexible members |82, bending them outward slightly. Thespring tension n these pieces |8|A. is not great enough to prevent thefree movement ofthe blank. However, it is sufflcient to prevent theblank from rebounding out alignment when it strikes the stops |83 of themultigraph.

|84 and l85rindicate, respectively, front and rear filler plates. Thesefiller plates ar'e screwed, as indicated, to rightrand left side members81 and' 88. Their edges are turned down, as indicated in section in Fig.23. The members |'8|A Vproject below the level of the top of the anglerollers, as indicated in Fig. 23, and'screws |86 are provided so thatthey may be placed in different positions according to the length of theblanks being fed.

In Fig. 24 I show a blank in position against the stop' vfingers |83, asingle ball |50 on the blank being between the rollers, as shown also inFig. 13. The other balls and ball retainers v` modate the larger balls Iuse a retainingblock such as is shown in Figs. 16 and 17, etc., exceptthe hole |49 is bored larger and entirely through the block one size,the upper turned in edges of the channel serving to prevent the ballfrom being removable through the top of the channel.

In order to mount the hand feed pan shown in Fig. 20 the cross bar |28with the left guide |21 and ball holding guides |26 is removed byloosening the wing nuts |81 by which it is clamped to the brackets |30and |3|, and the cross rodif |33 with upper pull-out roller, etc., isremoved by loosening the wing nuts ||6 and ||1. The rod |88 is insertedin the slots of the brackets |4 and,||5 and wing nuts |89 are tightened.The

pan |90 is turned up on the right edge to form the right guide |9| andon the left edge, |92 to form a mounting for an adjusting bracket |93.It is cut out as at |94 to permit the narrow blanks over towards theleft side of the multigraph. 'I'he pan |90 is pivotally attached'to therod |88 by the countersunk screw |95. By theslot in the pan |90 andscrew |96 the pan is adjustable for alignment. For lateral positioningthe handwheel 93 is used the same as when feeding automatically. Anadjustable left guide if formedof the sheet metal piece |91 bent up asat |98.

An adjusting rod |99 screwed into the bracket- 200 which is bolted tothe left guide |98, forms, together with the bracket |93 fitted withthumb screw 20| means of adjusting the left guide towards and from theright guide |9I.v

Figs. 27, 28, 29,30, 31, -32,.33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44show different construction from previous figures with improved featuresadded. In thisconstruction a U-shaped angle frame i 2,155,895 202 isused for mounting the magazine and coning for ,the angle \iron frame202, permanent veyor of improved construction.

For mounting the feeding roller, separator and associated parts, I usethe bracket 203 cast in one piece, forming also the rear slide 204corresponding withrear slide member 34A, Figs. 1, $2, and 7, for theconveyor. mounted on the sides of the angle iron frame 202 as shown, byscrews 205.. While in this construction a narrow feeding roller such asis shown at 59, Figs. 1 and 7, may be used, I show in Figs.\30, 31 and32 a wide rubber covered feeding roller 206 grooved down to the core 'Ito carry a rubber feeding belt 208. 'I'he shaft 203 upon which this feedroller 206 is mounted runs free in long bushings 2|0 and 2| I. Thesebushings are forced into the enlarged side portions 2|2 and 2|3 of thebracket 203. Endwise movement of the shaft 209 is prevented by thecollar 2|4 on the left'end and the ratchet wheel 2 I 5, fitting tight onthe right end as shown. On the inwardly extending portions of thebushings 2|0 and 2| I, the brackets 2|6 are mounted as shown in Figs.30, 31, and 42. The metal is cut away as at 2|`| and the portions 2|8closed so as to cause them to grip the bushings tight enough to hold inposition and yet not too tight to be moved by hand pressure. The rod 2|9mounted in the upper ends of these brackets carries the feed beltidlerpulley 220 and also the `guides 22| adjustable by the thuinb screws222.

The separator adjusting plate 223 is pivoted on screws 224 in the sidesof bracket 203. The separator and guide holding rod 225 is similarlymounted by pivot screws 226. The separator adjusting screw 221 with locknut 228 is tted in the lug 229, cast integral with the bracket, this lugbeing an extension of one leg of the angle shaped portion 230 of thebracket 203 which forms a supporting rest for the guides 23|, 232, or233 according to the set being used for the particular kind or blanksbeing fed. A U-shaped frame 234, shown onlyA in part in the drawings ofthis construction, corresponds with the frame 43 shown in Fig. 4. Theframe 234 is pivotally' mounted by shoulder screws 235 on the sides ofthe bracket 203. The pan 236 is of construction similar to the pandetailed in Figs. 4, 5, and 11, except that in this latter mentioneddesign the bottom of the pan is bent down at the point 231, Fig. ll nearits lower end. The pan 236 pivotally mounted in a manner similar to themounting shown in Fig. 5, is equally well adapted to serve with any oneof the three sets of guides and separator fingers shown in Figs. 32, 33,and 34. In changing from one set of guides to another the pan pivotsabout its upper supporting rod, corresponding with the rod 52, Fig. 5.InV

changing the angle or slope of the pan 236 it pivots substantially aboutits lower edge Where it rests upon the guides 23|, 232 or 233 andcorresponding separator finger. a

The separator fingers 24|, 242, and 243 have reduced lower portionsadapted to receive the rubber separator tubing 60. 'I'he upper edge ofthe separatorrubber iis ush with the surface of the finger andcontinuous with it, presenting no obstruction to the sliding of theblanks. The separator fingers have portions extending down below theircorresponding guides to rest upon the separator adjusting plate 223 asshown in Figs. 32, 33, and 34.

The formation of the bracket 203 in one pieceV has many advantages.Among them may be mentioned, economical manufacture, rigid brac- Thi'sbracket 203 is' alignment of the bearings 2|0 and 2|| once they Aarebored true. In this one piece are provided the slide 204 for theconveyor, the rest 230 for the guides 23|, 232 and 233, and amounting225 for same, mounting for the separator linger adjusting plate 223,mounting for the adjusting bracing means for the .casting itself.' a

y As previously stated, I have found that blanks of different inherentqualities naturally" present themselves to the feeding roller atdifferent angles when placed in a'gravity hopper such as.the one Iemploy. Short, stiff or bulky blanks will tend to stand up as at 238,Fig. 32. Longer, less stiff, less bulky or curled-down blanks will tendto take tile direction shown at 239, Fig. 33. Flexible, thin, flat orcurled-up blanks tend to -lie down at as at 240, Fig. 34. In order toaccomplish -the feedingl forward of the leading blank with minimumresistance of the separator rubber 60, I use interchangeable separatorngers 24|, 242, and 243 ofdiiferent curvature as shown, to bring theline of tangency. of the separator rubber with the feed roller as nearlyas possible to correspond uwith the direction of the leading blank ofthe particular kind of blanks being fed. 'Ihe wide roller 206 and theguides 23|, assist materially in securing uniform flexing of stiff,bulky and irregular blanks, securing proper presentation to the pull-outrollers 244' and 245.

The feed belt 208 serves a double purpose. It is made of very liverubber and presents a longer gripping surface lengthwise of the blank.When the magazine pan is nearly empty it maintains the leading blank inproper direction against the lever and fulcrum action of the followingblanks at the end of the lift. The arms 22|', adjustable about the rod2|9 prevent too heavy packing down of the blanks against the feed roller206 and feed belt 208.

To summarize, the hopper 236 adjustable for slope, pivotally mounted toco-operate with the interchangeable guides and separator fingers;interchangeable guides and separator fingers adapted to bring theseparating rubber into appropriate angular relationship with thenatural? direction of the leading blank; separator fingers of differentcurvature, adapted to co-op- `erate with the common adjusting means;guides adapted to co-operate with the pivotally mounted hopper, with theseparator and with a narrow 0r wide feed roller to secure properpresentation of blanks to the feeding roller and uniform flexing andpresentation to the pull-out rollers; a wide feeding roller grooved tocarry a feeding belt adjustable towards and from the leading blank; andadjustable retarding member adapted to prevent the packing down of shortheavy or bulky blanks against the feeding roller and belt;-these severalmembers and means, shaped, mounted and adjustable substantially asdescribed, when used in appropriate combination, constitute simple,practical and elcient means of feeding 'blanks of a wide variety oflength, width, stiffness, thickness, curvature, etc. As is obvious fromthe description and drawings the set-up may be made in different lateralpositions, within' sponds with the link 20, Figs. l and 7, beingattached to the crank I6 of the multigraph. The

link 246 is bolted to the fork 241 "to which the i rack 248 is riveted.The. rack' 248 engages the lextends 'through the flanged roller 253which runs free upon it. The hand wheel 254 fixed tight upon the furtherreduced end of the shaft 209 holds the assemblyin place.

The pawl 255 isv mounted on the wheel 25| by the shoulder screw 256. Thepawl spring 251 strung between the pin 258 fitted in the pawl and thepin 259 fitted in the pawl wheel serves to keep the pawl in operativeposition to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 2|5 or to hold it inidle position as indicated by the dotted line, Figure 36. In Figs. 38,40 and 41 I show a special shaped collar -26|! mounted upon the rightend 26|, Fig. 30, of the bushing 2||. 'I'his collar has a thin partlycut away portion 262 extending over the ratchet wheel 2|5. As the arm I6and the gear 249 are of such proportions that the pawly 255 can at mosttravel slightly more than one-half the circumference of the ratchet 2|5,the length of the feed stroke imparted to the feeding roller can beconveniently regulated, by turning the collar 260 about the bushing 26|and locking with the screw 263 in the desired position. As will beapparent from Fig. 41 the pawl 255 on the back stroke will be liftedaway from the ratchet teeth when it comes to the edge of the portion 262of the collar 260. On the feeding stroke it cannot engage the teethuntil it has dropped off this portion.

The cut-off provided in this pawl arrangement is useful as beforeexplained, when it is necessary to rotate the multigraph withoutfeeding. The device just described enabling the operator to regulatethev length of the feed stroke is particularly useful in the feeding ofshort blanks, where the feed stroke must be just-long enough to deliverthe leading edge of the blank to the pull-out rollers.

In the conveyor construction shown in Figa-27, 28, 29, 43 and 44, theleft side 264, the right side 265 and the pulley supporting Imember 266are tied together and held in position by screws through the front andrear tie plates, 261 and 268 as indicated, forming a rigid structure.'This structure is further strengthened by a cross plate correspondingwith the plate |28, Fig. 24, bolted to the lugs 269 and 210 cast as partof the side members; by a tie rod corresponding with the rod I3, Fig. 7,mounted between the lugs 21| and 212 cast as part of the side members264 and 265; by the tube 213 and rod 214 brace between the lug 215 castas part of the side 264 and the lug 216 cast as part of the pulleysupporting member 266; further strengthening is furnished by the castrear filler plate- 211 screwed to suitable lugs on the sides 264 and 265as shown, and by a cast front filler plate 218, its right end let in andscrewed to the right side 265, its left end carrying -a lug 219 toreceive the screw 28| through the left side 264, as indicated in Fig.27. Rollers of the same design and mounting as shown in Fig. 18 are usedin this construction. The small roller 282 rotates onthe shaft 283 xedin the small lugs 284 and 285 cast on the under side of the front llerplate 218, Fig. 29. The 'shaft I0 with grooved pulleys 9, |5|A and |16Axed upon it is journaled in the lugs 215 and 216.

'I'he driving of the pull-out rollers, the rollers and the adjustment ofthe plate 281 is substantially as shown in Figs. 7 and 37 except that inorder to drive the small roller 282 the idler pulley 288 is mounted on'an arm 289 which swivels and said linger, and continuously driven'means75 about its opposite end upon the shoulder pin .290

xed in plate 281 as indicated in Figs. 27 and 28. The pull of thespring. |62 on the belt |52 causes the belt to be forced up against thesmall roller on account of the swivel point, 290 being below the centerline of the pull. 'The parts are so proportioned that the belt aroundthe pulley 288, just clears the base of the multigraph 29|. As

the roller 282 must be as near the multigraph as' 'I'he U-shaped frame|14, Figs. 43 and 44, carrying the tightenerv pulley shaft 293 swings onthe tube brace 213. 'I'he spring |16 looped around the shaft 293 and inthe casting 216 as indicated maintains the tension on the belt 8. Whenit is desired to turn the multigraph without driving the conveyor thetightener pulley |12 is lifted as in Fig. 43 by raising the handle 294into the upper yposition indicated. Without the tightener pulley bearingdown on the belt the driving pulley 41 under the multigraph slips aboutthe belt 8 instead of driving it. The handle 294 isfixed in the arm 295which turns about the shoulder screw 296 in the side 265. The link 291shaped as shown at one end fits freely about the reduced part of thehandle 294 and at the other ts freely y about the reduced part of theshaft 293 fitted with retaining nut and washer. As the handle is raisedto its upper position it passes the centre line of shaft 293 andshoulder screw 296. The link strikes the screw 296 and is thus held inthis position by the tension of the spring |16.

`Having thus shown and described my invention what I claim is: 1. Inmechanism for feeding sheets to a duplieating or other machine, thecombination with meansfor feeding front portions of the sheetssuccessively from the top of an inclined supply thereof, of a sheethandling unit comprising pullout means for drawing the sheets forwardlyin succession past the feeding means from said supply, conveying meansfor advancing each forwardly drawn sheet, means for guiding the sheetson the conveying means, and means for retaining the sheets in engagementwith the conveying and guiding means; means for adjusting the sheethandling unit laterally of the feeding means, and means for driving saidpull-out and conveying means continuously and providing for adjustment`of said unit as aforesaid.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally stationary finger insubstantial alignment with the blanks in the front portion of the supplyandan intermittently driven feed wheel or *roller frictionallycooperating therewith for feeding front portions of sheets successivelyfrom a supply thereof, one or more adjustable devices for maintainingthe substantial alignment of the blanks in the front portion of thesupp1y with the said finger, one or more devices for guiding the yfrontportions of 'the sheets between the feed wheel or roller and the finger,inclined means for supportingthe supply and from which said portions ofthe sheets are fed one after another over said device or devices betweenthe feed wheel or roller for pulling the sheets forwardly one afteranother through the feed wheel or roller and thefinger from said supply.i Y

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, an intermittently driven feed wheel orroller for feeding front portions of sheets successively from a supplythereof, means for vsupporting interchangeable fingers conforming withvarious angles of inclination of the front portion of the supply and forretaining one of said fingers frictionally en- 4. In sheet feedingmechanism, a normally stationary linger and an intermittently drivenfeed wheel or roller frictionally cooperating therewith for feedingfront portions of sheets successively t from a supply thereof, anendless belt passing around and intermittently driven by the feed wheelor roller and cooperating with the same and the Supply may fan outprogressively from a iiat position at the rear of said supply to asubstantially vertical position at the front thereof, a guide for thetop of the supply, a normally stationary linger and an intermittentlydriven feed wheel or roller moving in one direction only andfrlctionally cooperating with the linger for feed- 'ing lower portionsof the sheets downwardly in succession from the front of the supply,continuously driven means for pulling the sheets forwardly one afteranother through the feed wheel or roller and said finger from saidsupply, and means for guiding the downwardly fed sheets to saidcontinuously driven pulling means.

6. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally stationary linger pointingsubstantially in the direction of feeding and an intermittently drivenfeed wheel or roller rotating in one direction only and frictionallycooperating with the nger for feeding front portions of sheetssuccessively from a supply thereof, inclined means for supporting thesupply and from which said portions of the sheets are fed one afteranother from the supply between the feed wheel or roller and the finger,opposed continuously driven rollers for pulling the sheets forwardly oneafter another through said feed wheel or roller and said finger fromsaid supply, a wiper for the feed wheel or roller, and

means for yieldably supporting one of said sheet pulling rollers andsaid wiper.

7. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feed- Y scopic relationtherewith, means for oscillating the drive shaft, and connectionsbetween the drive shaft and said driven shaft for intermittentlyrotating the latter and said feed' wheel or roller in one directiononly.

8. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feeding front portions ofsheets successively from the top of an inclined supply thereof andcomprising a drivenjshaft and a feed wheel or roller xed thereon, meansfor pulling the sheets forwardly one after another past the feed wheelor roller from said supply. a1 rotatable member loosely mounted on thedriven shaft aforesaid, means for oscillating the rotatable member,connections between said rotatable member and said driven shaft forintermittently rotating the latter and said feed wheel or roller in onedirection only and .means operable upon said connections for regulatingthe amount of or stopping the rotation of the driven shaft 4and feedvwheel.

9. In sheet feeding mechanism, means for feeding front portions ofsheets successively from a supply thereof and comprising a driven shaftand fa feed wheel or roller fixed thereon, means for pulling the sheetsforwardly one after another past the feed wheel or roller from saidsupply. a rotatable member loosely mounted on the driven shaftaforesaid, means for oscillating the rotatable member, connectionsbetweensaid rotatable member and the driven shaft for intermittentlyrotating the latter and the feed wheel or roller in one direction only,and means operable upon i said connections for regulating the amount ofrotation of said driven shaft and said feed wheel or roller.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet conveyor comprising continuouslydriven rollers e'xtending diagonally of the path of travel of sheetslongitudinally of said conveyor, means adjacent said rollers for guidingthe sheets during travel of the same one after another along theconveyor, means for feeding th sheets successively to the conveyor andcomprising opposed continuously driven rollers extending transversely ofsaid path at right angles thereto, and means for adjusting said conveyorand said feeding means transversely as a unit.

11. In sheet feeding mechanism, opposed driven rollers for feedingsheets, a guide along which the sheets are fed one after another fromsaid rollers, a conveyor for feeding the sheets along the guide andcomprising driven rollers extending diagonally of said guide and saidfirst named rollers, one or more supports spaced from the guidelaterally thereof and mounted above the driven diagonally extendingrollers longitudinally of the conveyor, and rolling weights or ballscarried by said support or supports and cooperating with the drivendiagonally extending rollers to maintain the sheets in engagementtherewith, and means ofl adjusting transversely all these memberswithout changing their relation to one another.

' 12. In mechanism for feeding sheets to a dupli cating orothermachine,` means for feeding front portions of the sheets successivelyfrom the top of an inclined supply thereof, pull-out means for drawingthe sheets one after another forwardly past the feeding means from saidsupply, oscillating means for driving the feeding means intermittentlyin one direction only, means for continuously driving said pull-outmeans and means operable upon said oscillating means for stopping andstarting the feeding means.

13. In sheet feeding mechanism, a normally

